African violet plant named St. Louis

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named St. Louis characterized by its single, solid purple flowers; strong, upright flower stems that curve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; medium green, round girl-type leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name St. Louis.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation G 6/III, and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made byme in the controlled breeding program in Isselburg, Federal Republic ofGermany. The female, or seed parent was a cultivar designated C 150. Themale, or pollen parent was a cultivar designated d 106/3.

St. Louis was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Haffen,West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings,as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

St. Louis has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville, Tenn. undergreenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of St. Louis, which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Single solid purple flowers.

(3) Profuse flowering.

(4) Each plant carries 8-9 and more upright flower stems, each of whichcarries 6-7 flowers.

(5) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(6) Vigorous and compact grower.

(7) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(8) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(9) Medium green girl-type leaves, round, slightly serrated with abright light green center.

(10) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 2 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. St. Louis.

Parentage:

Male parent.--d 106/3.

Female parent.--C 150.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 8 to 10 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately 17-20cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Round, girl-type. Diameter: 60-65 mm. Texture:Velvety. Aspect: Shiny, hairy, small light green center, curled up atcenter, slightly serrated. Veins: Upperside: visible; underside: wellpronounced, very light green, shiny. Color (upperside): Yellow-GreenGroup 146 between A and B. Color (underside): Greyed-Green Group 194 B.Petiole: strong upright, light green with purplish red touch on sidetoward flowers, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Ball-shaped, 8-9 mm just before opening, purple, hairy.Sepals: Five (5). Color: Green with purplish touch. Calyx: Shape:Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strongupright, hairy. Color: Purplish brown. Individual flowers: Size: 35-45mm. Shape: Single violet-shaped (3 large and 2 small petals). Color(upperside): Purple Group 77 A. Color (underside): Violet Group 83 C.Borne: Each flower stem carries 6-7 and more flowers on strong, uprightpeduncle that are free standing above the leaves, thereby forming acompact bouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers 10-11 weeks after potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: 2. Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anther cells,seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowish green withpurple on the edges, 5 mm long. Pollen color: Yellow Group 7. Styles: 7mm long, purple, base of ovary light green and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General Observations: St. Louis has a very attractive appearance due toits medium green, round girl-type leaves with a light green center. Atight bouquet of flowers free-standing above the leaves develops afterapproximately 10-11 weeks. Each of the 8-9 and more flowers stemscarries 6-7 solid purple, single violet-shaped flowers contrastingnicely with the bright yellow anthers. Occasionally, 1-2 additionalsmall petals may develop. The flowers are long-lasting and non-dropping.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named St.Louis, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized byits single, solid purple flowers; strong, upright flower stems thatcurve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves;medium green, round girl-type leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous andcompact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and itslong-lasting and non-dropping flowers.